Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

NDMA; that in the Punjab, a 4-5 member Civil-Military
Committee notified in 2004, headed by respective District
Coordination Officer with XEN Irrigation, Representative of
Pakistan Army and Highway Department etc determined in
the light of SOPs whether a breach was necessitated; that
during 2010 Floods, controlled breaches were made on 30 th
July 2010 with Army assistance to protect the Jinnah
Barrage, but the Army was not called to assist for breaches
to LMB in Taunsa area. Likewise in Sindh, neither any
breach was effected nor carried out downstream Guddu
Barrage. He confirmed existence of security related limited
number of bunds/ embankments in the border regions but
these did not have any impact on the flood protection
operations, nor did Irrigation authorities responsible for their
maintenance flag any concern about those locations, except
a few in Sutlej River area close to International border. It
was, however, affirmed that in newer designs, the defence
needs were being harmonized with irrigation related
concerns. He advised that additional escape channels may
be developed to ease out the pressure at Guddu and Sukkur
Barrages.
(iv) Air Commodore Ashfaque Arain, Assistant Chief of the Air
Staff (Plans) of the PAF who stated to be the officer-in-
charge flood operations at the relevant time, deposed that
the PAF Airbase Shahbaz, Jacobabad, was in exclusive
management, control and use of the PAF. It was stated that
a large workforce had been deployed that included
expatriate Technicians/Consultants engaged for upgradation
of physical and electronic infrastructure, required before
arrival of hi-tech F-16 planes, due by December 2010. It was
stated that Jacobabad area remained cut-off for almost two
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